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Erica Denallo and Darcy Irish, both 21-year-old seniors at Marietta College, have different career goals, but both said they were glad they made time to look in on the Mid-Ohio Valley Entrepreneurship Expo at the college recreation center Friday.
With dozens of vendors, a full day of workshops, a keynote speech by entrepreneurial legend Carol Roth and panel sessions, the event had thought-provoking offerings throughout the day, the two Cleveland women said.
Irish, whose interest is in management and finance, said she might be looking at a career in the pharmaceutical or financial industries. Denallo said she was looking at a career path in health.
"There's a lot of helpful information," Irish said. "It helped me gain perspectives about business in the area."
"It helped me get figure out ways to get my name out," Denallo said, adding that her talk with Scribe America might lead the way to shadowing and interning opportunities. "It's good to see the options. It's just good information."
For Susan Berry of Barlow, the benefits were more specific. Leaving the keynote speech session on her way to a panel discussion, the retired higher education professional said she now runs a property management firm.
"I've got no social media skills, but I'm learning here ," she said. "I either need to increase my technical skills or hire somebody who can do it for me."
Barry said she attended the Social Media Tools workshop and the Venture Model Canvas, where the room tested and discussed her idea for another business.
"It's really been worthwhile," she said.
Jackie Khorassani, director of entrepreneurship and chair of the business and economic department at the college, said about 270 people registered for the expo, an increase from last year when the first expo was held. Most of those attending were students, she said, including 70 high school students from Belpre, Marietta and Parkersburg South High, which has a business program..
In the background, Carol Roth told the room, "A successful entrepreneur?
You're the person to see the right opportunity at the right time, and you're the right person to do it."
And high school students? "It's a great opportunity to do things outside your comfort zone. You've got lots of support, no student loans, no kids and people want to help you," she said in response to a question from one of the high schoolers.
Connor Golden, standing with his Marietta College senior classmates Ian Luttrell and Molly Dunlap, said he found the expo to be a great networking event.
"I've been swapping cards with local businesses," he said. "Even though starting a business is not my first focus, this has been helpful."
Those already in the fray are more driven.
"You have to either keep up or drop out, and I'm not ready to drop out," said Berry.